Monday

May 11, 2020 at 4:34 PM

Lake Worth Beach scheduled a special 4 p.m. meeting Tuesday about reopening the beach, but it's unlikely to happen before the county's tentative May 18 open date.

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The Casino and Beach Complex in Lake Worth Beach reopened with cheers through a megaphone Monday as employees at popular Benny's on the Beach celebrated an upgrade to normal business hours and seated dining.

While the beach itself remained off limits Monday, restaurants and shops either reopened for the first time in weeks, or began seating the first sit-down diners since emergency orders shutdown that service in late March.

Benny's has been open for takeout on weekends, but employees excitedly marked Monday's return to a normal schedule by calling to drivers on South Ocean Boulevard. Barriers to the upper-level parking lot were removed just before noon Monday and curious drivers funneled through to see what was open.

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“We were allowed to open, but there was no traffic, there was no business,” said Raffy Abraham, owner of the Kilwin's Chocolates at the casino in Lake Worth Beach. “We'll see how it goes. I'm hopeful.”

Benny's on the Beach is open. Staff rejoices with dances and megaphone. pic.twitter.com/cSC24RvLJF

— Kimberly Miller (@KMillerWeather) May 11, 2020
Kilwin's, Mama Mia's and the Lake Worth Beach Tee Shirt Co. had their doors open by noon Monday. Mulligan's Beach House Bar and Grill was still closed with no indication when it would reopen.

Barry Freedman, who has operated the Lake Worth Beach Tee Shirt Co. at the casino for 36 years, closed his shop March 19.

On Monday, he had just received a shipment of masks and gloves for his employees to wear, and set out a custom T-shirt that said “Just wash your hands.”

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“We've lost the best months in March, April and May,” Freedman said. “Spring break, Passover. That's when I make close to 40 percent of my revenue.”

Freedman is hopeful the beach will open soon. Palm Beach County commissioners approved a tentative plan last week to reopen beaches to county residents May 18. They will make a decision Friday.

The City of Lake Worth Beach has a special 4 p.m. meeting scheduled Tuesday to discuss the beach reopening and the “Phase 1" opening in general. Lake Worth Beach public information officer Ben Kerr said the city won't reopen the beach before the county.

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Kerr said city officials were still deciding Monday how to handle parking for the restaurants at the casino that are now open to diners.

Suzanne and Skip MacDowell said they are regulars at Mulligan's Beach House Bar and Grill at the Lake Worth Beach Casino and had hoped it was reopening Monday.

The couple, who are visiting from St. Louis to help with a new grandchild, ate at Mama Mia's instead.

>>Palm Beach County beaches to reopen May 18 under proposed plan

“I'm looking forward to just eating out more. It's one of our favorite things to do,” said Suzanne, who was comfortable with the timing of Palm Beach County's reopening. “You can't put life on hold forever.”

While there's no seating at the bar allowed, Dave's Last Resort and Raw Bar on Lake Avenue had full tables outside on the sidewalk Monday. Inside, every other booth would get seated.

Owner Dave Palombo said no one had yet expressed concerns about safety.

“People are just very happy to be out,” he said.

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Others plan to ease back into restaurant dining more slowly.

Ken Crosby, who reopened his shop Darkside Collectibles on Lucerne Avenue in Lake Worth Beach on Monday, said he will go back to restaurants, but wants to sit outside.

Restaurants can open with 25 percent capacity indoors and appropriate social distancing.

“I'm still a little freaked out,” Crosby said about indoor seating. “There's the air conditioning circulating, and people have to take their masks off to eat.”